Skirt-extender



v(No Model.)

G. W'. LOGKWOOD.

Patented ileb.V 13, 1894.1

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IPATENT FETCE.,w

GEORGE W. LOCKWOOD, OF NUTLEY, NEW JERSEY.

SKIRT-EXTENDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 514,861, dated February 13, 1894.

Application tiled March 27, 1893. Serial No. 467,680. (No model.) Y

To @ZZ whom it may concern.:

' Be it known that I, GEORGE W. LOCKWOOD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Nutley, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Skirt-Exten ders, of which the following is a specification.

My improved extender holds out the lower portion of a skirt to the proper extent by the aid ofv a flat wire, analogous to hoop-skirt wire, of small size and great length, making a number of circuits in one continuous piece. The wire is inclosed between two thin fabrics, the innermost of which may be smoothly extended and the outermost formed in pockets by lines of stitching, the outer fabric having a little more depth than the inner to allow for the curtailm ent of length thus caused. I will describe the manufacture as commenced at the bottom. The wire makes a number of parallel circuits extending horizontally around, then diverges and extends upward at a gentle incline three lingers length more or less, and then extends again horizontally around, buta less numberof times; then at another pointin the circuit the wire extends again at an inclination upward to a proper height and there again performs two or other number of circuits. It finally ends by making a single circuit, or leaving the upper circuit incomplete. Both ends of the wire proper should be shod with a brass cap, or otherwise shielded to induce a condition to withstand wear at that point and to guard against the tendency to work through the fabric.

Tapes or ordinary flexible strips extend upward from the topI of (my double fabric to a waist-band, and should be rightly proportioned to support the extender at the proper height. The lower edge may be finished with lace, embroidery or the like.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification and represent what I consider the best means of carrying out the invention.

Figure l is a perspective View, side. Fig. 2 is a perspective view, front. Fig. 3 is a central vertical section through a portion on a larger scale. Fig. 4. is a corresponding section of a portion on a still larger scale. Fig.

5 is a perspective view of a portion of one of the springs.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures where they appear.

A is the inner fabric and B the outer fabric.

C is a hoop of flat wire. This maybe tempered steel, ordinaryT hoop skirt wire, extended once around and united by a clasp C. It performs the ordinary functions of an elastic hoop.

D is a .corresponding fiat steel Wire of less width and thickness, but of asufticient length to extend many times around the garment. Certain portions will bedesignated, when necessary, by super-numerals, as D.. This wire is stitched in place, making complete circuits.

Having made four level circuits parallel and close together to constitute a bottom hoop of sufcient rigidity, a continuation D of the liat wire is inclined obliquely upward in the space between the two fabrics until it attains a proper distance above the lower hoop; there it again makes four level circuits D2 close together; then its continuation D3 inclines upward again obliquely to a sufficient Aheight and again makes three complete level circuits; then it inclines upward again,and soon, taking care to arrange the inclined traverses at each level at a different part of the circuit from that of the inclined traverses below. This distributes the effect of these elements so that the action maybe practically uniform on all sides. There may be a final upper hoop of one circuit, but I prefer to make the whole of the upper portion a spiral, as kindi` cated by Di. Each end of this long, slender and highly elastic Hat steel wire is equipped with a rounded cap E of brass, as has been long practiced with fiat wire stieners'.

The single circuit of the wire C and the several circuits of the slender wire D,D2,D4, &c.,

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on each side of each circuit of the wire in the several hoops, but also extend along an inclined line on the under side of the portions D D3, &c., which bridge across the intervals.

The lower edge of my skirt extender is finished with a suitable breadth of lace H. The upper edge is hemmed and connected by suficiently strongand flexible tapes I to a waistband J, which latter is provided with a jambuckle or corresponding fastener K and performs its usual functions.

The invention is intended more especially for use with the better class of dresses, and for such use the fabric A may be Sateen or other tasty material. Silk or satin may serve. It presents a seemly appearance whenever exposed in any exigencies of use.

My stiener attains the eect of holding the skirt properly distended while presenting the appearance of a corded or analogous dexible skirt.

Modifications may be made without departing from the principle or sacrificing the advantages of the invention. The number of circuits of my slender wire in the several aggregations of complete circuits, which I have termed hoops, may be greater or less than I have specified. There may be a uniform number in all the several hoops. The stouter wire at the extreme bottom may be omitted.

I claim as my invention- In askirt extendenaseries of parallel hoops D, D2, D4, each formed of several coils with oblique connecting wires D', D3, all in a continuous length inclosed between two fabrics A, B, one within the other, the outermost, A, having an excess of length formed in exteriorridges resembling those in a corded skirt, and having the line of stitches G connecting the two fabrics together and supporting the several coils of the wire, allsubstantially as herein specified.

In testimony that I claim the invention above set forth I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

GEORGE W. LOCKWOOI).

NVitnesses:

M. F. BoYLn, H. A. JoHNsroNE. 

